Toothbrush



Jan. 17, 1933. D. N. BOOTH, 1,894,509

TOOTHBRUSH Filed Sept. 10, 1951 T1 an Tlgti T1519 TlgZiO INVENTOR Y Q SW/WW;

UNITED STATES ATEN op- DAVID n. noorn, or Niiw YORK; N. Y.

'roo'riinnusn Application filed September 10, 1931. .SeriaiNo. 562,009. I

This invention relates to an improvement in toothbrushes. The primary ob ect of the present invention is to provide a toothbrush having an adjustable brushing surface which 5 may be varied to conformto the lingual and labial curvatures ofthe teeth in the dental arch.

A further object contemplatesthe adjustment of the brushing surface by means of the brushin handle.

Another dbject is toconstruct a toothbrush formed of a central fixed brush member having a pivotally positionable handle thereon,

and to associate with the center brush, add

tional brush members preferably hinged onthe opposite ends of the-same.

Another object is to provide a construction by which the brushes may be readlly re.-

placed.

Still another object is to provide a brush construction which will permit the pro er cleaning of the interproximal spaces tween the teeth and also one which will readily facilitate a thorough cleaning of both the lingual and labial sides of the teeth. I

My invention. further includes other ob-;

jects, advantages and novel features of design, construction and arrangement hereinafter more particularly referred to in connection with'the accompanying drawing, in which Figure 1 is a plan view showing the adaptability of the toothbrush made .in accordance therewith to fit the curvatures on the respective sides oftheteeth.

Fig. 2 is a side elevation illustrating the preferred embodiment of the invention.

Fig. 3 is a plan view of the construction as shown in Fig. 2.

Fig. 4; is a perspectiveviewof a modification of the invention.

Fig. 5 is a longitudinal section taken midway of theconstruction as illustrated in Fig. 4 and including thereon the operating handle.

Fig. 6 is a cross section of the preferred form of brush element.

, Fig. 7 is a perspective View showing the Fig. 9 is a perspective view showing the v osite end ofthe' members illustrated in both Figs. 9 and 10.

Fig. 12 is a perspective view illustrating a further modification of theinvention.

' Fig. 13 isa plan view of the modification as'shownin Fig. 12. v

Fig. 1 4. is a plan view of another modified form of the invention, and r Fig. 15 is an enlarged view showing the manner in which I prefer to retain the brush handle in either of its respective positions with relation to the brush. I

Referring particularly to Figs. 1 to .3 in elusive, 8, 9 and 11, the toothbrush made in accordance with the present invention preferably comprises. a central brush member (20,) constructed to include a frame member (21), the lower portion of which has a longitudinal boss to engage and retain thereon a grooved brush element (22). A brush member (23) also includes a frame construction (24) as illustrated in Figs. 9 and 11, one end of which integrally includes a hollow cylindrical element (25) having therein an angularly disposed slot (26), the purpose of which will be hereinafter'more particularly described.

The frame (24) is constructed by means of inwardly disposed side surfaces (27 and (28) to suitably frictionallyretain therein a ing arms (37 and (38) on the opposite end of the central frame member (21). The ban dle of the brush is indicated at (89). One end of the handle is provided with a cylindrical projection or boss (40) the under surfaceof which rests against the upper surface of the frame (21). A central pin (41) extending from the handle, is provided with a circular flange at the end of the same, or

other suitable means, which is adapted to engage a recess in the frame so that thehandle is normally retained in position thereoin The handle is pivotally mounted on the central frame member so that it can also be moved to take a position at right angles to the frame as indicated by thed'otted'lines in V Fig. 2. Referring to Fig. l5,'t h,e handle is 7 brush as indicated on the labial side of the removably retained in either a longitudinal or transverse position with respect tothe central frame element (21) by a construction which includes'a slidable pin (57) in the boss (40). A spring (58),'1ocatedv on the boss (40) coacts with one end of the pin (57) and normally' retains the opposite end of the,

same within either of the recesses or grooves 59) and within the upper surface of the frame element (21) which defines the limiting positions of the handle. A slight channel or indentation of less depthconnects the recesses (59) and (60) and guides theend of the pin (57 duringthe movement of the handle to either of its working positions.

Referring particularly to Fig. 3 a pin (42) extends through the boss (40) and parallel to the frame (21), the ends of the pin being adapted to assume-a position within the slots (26) inthe respective cylinders of the frame elements (24) and (35).. The'pin (42), moving in conjunction with the handle, cooperates with the slots so that when the handle (39) is longitudinally disposed to the central brush member (20) the end brushes controlled by the cylindrical element will take a position as shown in Fig. 2 and alsoon the teeth in Fig. lso that a concave brushing surface isobtained. By manually moving the handle transversely of the central brush member the pin (42), cooperating with the angular slots (26) of the cylinders in the re-. spective end members, will move the same to take .a position illustrated by the dotted lines in Fig. 2 and also in the construction on the palatal or lingual side of the teeth as I shown in Fig. 1 to thereby obtain a convex brushing surface; 7 i

Also in order to obtain the proper cleaning ofthe interproximal spaces between the teeth, the surfaces of the brush elements are constructed to present a concave curvature asil lustrated inbothFigs. 6 and 8.v This con struction insures that the brush will reach the inclined surface of the teeth nearest' the gum line shown at (43) in Fig. 7

Q Referring particularly to Figs. 4,5 and '10,

the construction of the toothbrushis essen-- tially the same with a modification in the form of mechanism for controlling the .position of the end brushes by the handle. In

this modification of the invention the hollow cylindrical elements are. provided with a straight slot (44) as'indicated in'Fig. 10. A reciprocally positionable cross .piece'member (45) is associated with the central frame melnberand is centrally guided thereon byf meansofapin (4 6) secured in a pivotal manner at oneendto the frame. The handle .member is fastened to the opposite end of the pin (46) and includes, on thelower sur The respective ends of the tion of the cross piece (45) 's'othat the end members of the brush can be moved-with respect to one another totake a position similarto that herei nbefore'described in connection With the preferred form of the invention.

Referring to Figs. 12 and 13, the end brush members are formed to include a semi-cylindrical member as indicated at (49), and the relative position. of the same with respect to the central brush member is 7 determined by meansof cross pins (50) and (51). Avertical pin (52) pivotally connects the handle of the brush'to the centralxframe member. VVh'en the handleis longitudinally disposed to the central frame as shown by .the dotted lines in Fig 13; .thefends of the cross pin"( 50) c0 act with-the surface of the semi-cylinder above the axis of the same to thereby move the end members to, effect andfmaintain a concave brushing surface of the toothbrush; The handle is pivotallylconnected' so that it can be moved transverselyto the center brush member, in which position the ends of the pin (51), locatedbelovv the axis ofthe semicyl inder members,'are operative to press'thesurface of the same and 'move the end brushes to-obtain a convex brushing surface;

' The presentinvention also contemplates the provision of end brush members which can beplaced at any desired angularposition with respect to the central brush. This is preferably accomplished'by means of a cylindrical end member that has a plurality of axial slots on its surface as indicatedat 58) and (54) in Fig. 14. Cross holding arms (55) h 7 and (56) are employed to engage the slots i in the cylinder and are cont-rolled by the movement of the toothbruish handle. When the handle is midway between its holding po sitions, the arms will take a position as shown by the dotted lines in Fig. 14, and in which position the operator may freely place the respective end brush members at any desired angle to the central brush member. By moving the handle to either of its extreme positions the ends of the arms (55) and (56) co-act with the slots in the cylinders (53) and (54C) to maintain the end brush members in the desired angular position.

It is obvious that the general principles herein disclosed may be incorporated in other organizations, widely different from those illustrated, without departing from the nature and spirit of the invention Within the scope of the claims.

I claim as my invention:

1. A tooth brush comprising a central brush member, a handle pivotally secured to said brush member, additional brush members pivotally connected on opposite ends of the said central brush member, andomeans connecting said handle and end brush members whereby the respective brushes cooperate to form either a convex or concave brushing surface dependent upon the position in which the handle is set with respect to the central brush member. I

2. A tooth brush comprising a group of three pivotally connected frame elements, means for mounting brush members within said frame elements, a handle member pivotally secured to the central frame element, and means connecting said handle with the other frame elements of the group whereby the same maybe moved angularly with respect to the center element so that the brushes may be adjusted to assume a concave or convex curvature under the influence of the movable handle. I

3. A tooth brush comprising a central brush member, hinged brush members secured to opposite ends of the central brush member, a handle member pivotally secured to the central member, means connecting the handle member and end brush members whereby the respective brushes cooperate to form a concave brushing surface when the handle is longitudinal to the central brush member and to form a convex brushing surface when the handle is transversely disposed to the central brush member.

4. A tooth brush comprising a central brush member, hinged brushes secured to the opposite ends of the central member, a handle member pivotally secured to the central brush, and means connecting the handle member and end brushes whereby the end brushes may be moved to assume a position at any desired angle with respect to the central brush under the influence of the handle.

5. A tooth brush comprising three pivotally connected brush members, a handle member pivotally mounted on the central brush member, and means connecting said handle handle member and end members whereby the respective brushes cooperate to form a con cave brushing surface when the handle is longitudinal to the central brush member and to form a convex brushing surface when the handle is transversely disposed tothe central brush member, and means for removably retaining said handle member in either position. Signed by me this 12th day of August 1931. DAVID N. BOOTHJ 

